HSA Festival 2000 - Ulverstone, Tasmania

(Note:  To download video clips, right click on the name, then select "save target as")

From July 7th - 9th, the HSA festival was held in Ulverstone, Tasmania, with 84 people registered.  We all owe the Banksia ringers a big vote of thanks for organising this event.  They did a fantastic job!

The festival opened at 5.30 pm with a civic reception where we were welcomed by the Mayor of Ulverstone. We were also treated to a short performance by the Mt. Torrens 4ih quartet.

Then everyone went to Camp Clayton.  After dinner, most people had a chance to get themselves organised.  The committee took advantage of the opportunity for a meeting, which lasted 4 hours!

Saturday started with a visit from the ABC making recordings for the news.  Click on the name to view a video clip. Tara Tintinnabuli

During the day there were three rally ringing sessions, three massed ringing rehearsals, and three workshop sessions.

Video clips of the rally ringing Louise Salmon, Whitsundays, Glen Iris Handbell Ringers in rehearsal.

Workshops offered were conducting with Suzanne Maslen, combining vocal and handbells with Lindy Griggs  and Trevor McGowan-Slee, solo ringing with Louise Salmon, change ringing with Louise Salmon, midi and rehearsal techniques with Suzanne Maslen, ringing in church with Martyn Croft, handbell technique with Ray Jeffree, 4ih with Philip Bedford, and as a break from ringing, making an everlasting rose.

 1.      2.     3.

1. Combining handbells and vocals.  "I enjoyed Lindy Griggs' workshop on choral music and bells. Ms Griggs' gentle encouragement to play the unseen music went down well after the nerve-racking impromptu session we all had in front of the ABC."

2. Solo ringing.  

3. Midi rehearsal techniques.  "During the recent handbell festival in Ulverstone, I was fortunate enough to attend a workshop taken by Sue Maslen on conducting.  Every conductor has a different style, and I found it most interesting to see her demonstrating her method."

4.  5.

4. Change ringing.  5. Making an everlasting flower.

Saturday evening was taken up by the AGM!

On the Sunday, arrangements had been made for many groups to visit local churches and a nursing home to bring bells to the people of Ulverstone. 

We all returned to Camp Clayton for lunch and the afternoon concert, which was very well attended.  This included items by individual groups and the four massed ringing pieces.

AUSTRALASIAN HAND BELL CONCERT

Mudgee Handbell Ringers
Minuet by Kreger
Minuet by Fischer - arranged by Joan Foulcher
Can Can Polka by Offenbach

Ringspiration
Whispering Hope by A Hawthorne -  arranged by Ed. Rush
Swing Low Sweet Charriot  - by K McChesney

Geelong Handbell Ringers
Somewhere over the Rainbow by S.E. Hill
Ragtime Ramble by John Mitchell

MASSED BELL RINGING

Air from Berenice by Handel
Conducted by Suzanne Maslen
I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles
Conducted by Monica McTaggart

Whitsunday Anglican Grammar School
God of our Fathers
Selections from Beauty and the Beast
 Carrillion

Mrs Louise Salmon
Solo Ringing .. Ave Maria

Mt. Torrens Ringers
Virelai : Quant Je suis mis 
medieval French piece
You are my Sunshine

INTERVAL

Mersey - Leven CWA Choir
Conducted by Mrs. M Titmus
Song of Tasmania
Yesterday
Come to my Garden
Simple Gifts
The Lord Bless You and Keep You

Banksia Handbell Ringers
The Bells of St. Mary's
Poi. Canoe 
Aloha
Arranged by Ruth Beechey

Glen Iris Handbell Ringers
Yorkshire Bells

MASSED BELL RINGING

Choral Song by Wesley
Conducted by Beryl Croft
Make Me an Instrument of Thy Peace
Conducted by Carmel Davidson

Tara
Habanera by Bizet
with soloist Lucinda Beck
arranged by Lindy Griggs

Kevinwood
Hamabdil (Hebrew melody) by Granville Bantok
with Cello soloist Trevor McGowan-Slee
Tribute to Gershwin
arranged by Suzanne Maslen

Tintinnabuli
Come Holy Ghost by T Attwood
arranged by B. Croft
March Militaire by Schubert
arranged by Sandra Winter

A highlight of the concert was the performance of Make Me an Instrument of Thy Peace, conducted by Carmel Daveson.

It was particularly pleasing to hear the Whitsundays group performing at the concert.  They borrowed a set of bells from the society and it was exciting to hear just how much they had achieved in a short time.  It is hoped that by next year they will have their own set of bells.

In the evening the festival dinner was enjoyed by all those able to stay.  Many people had to set off for home on the Sunday evening, with the rest leaving early Monday morning.  Many of the ringers took a few days before or after the festival to enjoy the opportunity to see a bit of Tasmania.

Louise Salmon © 2002

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